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Newbie - Wash & polish recommendations
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- Newbie
- Posts: 36
- Joined: Sun May 29, 2022 9:30 pm
Newbie - Wash & polish recommendations
Hi all
Having acquired my Z4 coupe I am now considering investing time and money keep it clean and tidy.
I am after products from start to finish, I guess from shampoo all the way to polish.
My Zed is not garaged and just driven at weekends and holidays.
Any recommendations of brands and products ?
Thank you
Having acquired my Z4 coupe I am now considering investing time and money keep it clean and tidy.
I am after products from start to finish, I guess from shampoo all the way to polish.
My Zed is not garaged and just driven at weekends and holidays.
Any recommendations of brands and products ?
Thank you
2008 BMW e86 Z4 Coupe Si Sport, Titanium Silver, Auto - loving it!
2005 Mini R50 Park Lane JCW Royal Grey
2011 Mercedes W204 C250 Iridium Silver Auto - Gone
2010 BMW e90 325d M Sport Space Grey Auto - Gone
2005 Mini R50 Park Lane JCW Royal Grey
2011 Mercedes W204 C250 Iridium Silver Auto - Gone
2010 BMW e90 325d M Sport Space Grey Auto - Gone
- Schaef
- Member
- Posts: 165
- Joined: Tue Jun 28, 2022 11:39 am
Newbie - Wash & polish recommendations
Gyeon Bath+ is a good Shampoo, or the products from Bilthamber.
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- Newbie
- Posts: 38
- Joined: Tue Jun 28, 2022 7:53 pm
Newbie - Wash & polish recommendations
https://www.infinitywax.com
Only had my Z4C for a few weeks but this is the products I have used for years on my RS worth a spy bud
Only had my Z4C for a few weeks but this is the products I have used for years on my RS worth a spy bud
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- Member
- Posts: 188
- Joined: Tue Feb 08, 2022 2:32 pm
Newbie - Wash & polish recommendations
I use this company for most of my supplies.
https://www.slimsdetailing.co.uk
Great service and a good choice of products.
https://www.slimsdetailing.co.uk
Great service and a good choice of products.
Z4C 3.0 SI
iX3
640d GC
iX3
640d GC
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- Lifer
- Posts: 3931
- Joined: Mon Dec 03, 2012 4:47 pm
- Location: Sunderland
Newbie - Wash & polish recommendations
spend a couple of hours on here in the detailing section and then decide how much time you have and how much money you want to spend.
I used to spend hours, washing (Two buckets of course) then clay and two coats of wax all over and a third on upper surfaces.
Now wash clay once a year and GTechniq C2 ceramic coating which is so easy to use. Once washed the C2 can be done in about 20 mins with no effort at all.
I used to spend hours, washing (Two buckets of course) then clay and two coats of wax all over and a third on upper surfaces.
Now wash clay once a year and GTechniq C2 ceramic coating which is so easy to use. Once washed the C2 can be done in about 20 mins with no effort at all.
G29 M30i M Sport San Francisco Red
Previous
E89 35is Valencia Orange
E89 28i Crimson
E89 25i White
Previous
E89 35is Valencia Orange
E89 28i Crimson
E89 25i White
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- Lifer
- Posts: 3218
- Joined: Sun Feb 10, 2019 2:10 pm
- Location: Bristol/Bath
Newbie - Wash & polish recommendations
Silver is quite a forgiving colour in terms of dirt, but a harder colour to get an ultra glossy ‘wet look’ gloss finish on (compared to the darker colours)Pazza wrote: ↑Mon Aug 01, 2022 10:22 am Hi all
Having acquired my Z4 coupe I am now considering investing time and money keep it clean and tidy.
I am after products from start to finish, I guess from shampoo all the way to polish.
My Zed is not garaged and just driven at weekends and holidays.
Any recommendations of brands and products ?
Thank you
Some good pointers in the thread already, and a logical question would be how much time do you want to spend at the outset and then on regular upkeep?
If you’re prepared to put more hard work in at the beginning then maintenance washes will be easier.
For a car that’s going to sit outside 24/7 I’d echo Nanu and suggest an easy to use ceramic product.
If you’re not intending to machine polish the car, then I’d suggest you select your clay carefully as some are harsher than others and you don’t want to mar the paint whilst claying.
If not correcting the paint with a machine, I’d probably go
Bilt Hamber surfex HD 1/20 for decontamination
Then a fallout remover - lots of good ones available
Then a tar remover - Tardis etc, many available
Then Clay
Wash
Top coat - ceramic (spray type product)
I’d do it this way around because you’ll have reduced detritus to clay off of the paint, so likely to cause less marring.
If you really don’t want the cost or expense of doing all that then something like
Wash
Clay
Wash
Sonax BSD
Sonax BSD isn’t ceramic, but it gives a very glossy finish, excellent water repellency and lasts reasonably well - not as well as ceramic sprays, but you could top up easily even with a wash every couple of weeks. After initial application you can spray it on to wet panels after washing, it helps with drying and will top up the finish- Very easy to use
Alpina Roadster S Lux no. 204 (1 of 15 uk cars in Alpina Blue)
Previous Z4’s :E89 30i, E89 20i, E85 3.0Si (X4) E85 3.0i, E86 3.0 Si, E85 2.5si, E85 2.5i
Previous Z4’s :E89 30i, E89 20i, E85 3.0Si (X4) E85 3.0i, E86 3.0 Si, E85 2.5si, E85 2.5i
- Schaef
- Member
- Posts: 165
- Joined: Tue Jun 28, 2022 11:39 am
Newbie - Wash & polish recommendations
When you want to do some inspiration on how too you can take a look at Jim from White Details.
https://www.youtube.com/c/WhiteDetails/videos
https://www.youtube.com/c/WhiteDetails/videos
- DMike
- Senior Member
- Posts: 2440
- Joined: Tue Sep 11, 2007 7:15 pm
Newbie - Wash & polish recommendations
Hi Pazza and welcome,
Here are some channels I’ve enjoyed, both explaining a lot of the basics and avoiding mistakes, and also digging more and more into details, comparing products etc.
Chicage Auto Pros https://youtube.com/c/ChicagoAutoPros
Forensic Detailing https://youtube.com/c/ForensicDetailingChannel
Ammo NYC https://youtube.com/c/AMMONYCdotcom
Here are some channels I’ve enjoyed, both explaining a lot of the basics and avoiding mistakes, and also digging more and more into details, comparing products etc.
Chicage Auto Pros https://youtube.com/c/ChicagoAutoPros
Forensic Detailing https://youtube.com/c/ForensicDetailingChannel
Ammo NYC https://youtube.com/c/AMMONYCdotcom
2005 Z4 3.0i Sterling grey
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- Newbie
- Posts: 36
- Joined: Sun May 29, 2022 9:30 pm
Newbie - Wash & polish recommendations
Thank you all for the suggestions
2008 BMW e86 Z4 Coupe Si Sport, Titanium Silver, Auto - loving it!
2005 Mini R50 Park Lane JCW Royal Grey
2011 Mercedes W204 C250 Iridium Silver Auto - Gone
2010 BMW e90 325d M Sport Space Grey Auto - Gone
2005 Mini R50 Park Lane JCW Royal Grey
2011 Mercedes W204 C250 Iridium Silver Auto - Gone
2010 BMW e90 325d M Sport Space Grey Auto - Gone
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- Member
- Posts: 77
- Joined: Tue Mar 16, 2021 10:12 pm
- Location: Ayrshire
Newbie - Wash & polish recommendations
Hi there. Can I just jump in with another suggestion...
I recently discovered and started using this system which is the Autoglym Polar Series: https://www.autoglym.com/polarpressurewasher
1. Polar Foam - the snowfoam/pre-wash stage. Spray on / soak 10mins / rinse off
2. Polar Wash - the shampoo/wash stage. Spray on / agitate with a mitt (rinse mitt regularly) / rinse off
3. Polar Seal - the protective sealant stage. Spray on / rinse off (no waiting) / sheet the water off with open end of a hose / dry and admire
This is all applied by foam cannon and pressure washer. You don't need the AG foam cannon (I have this one from amazon which is amazing: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B09 ... UTF8&psc=1)
Check out this quick video from AG on YT and see it in action for yourself: https://youtu.be/Q1x4AnWViGI
I've tried a lot of products over the years, but this blew me away on how fast and easy it is. I know the seasoned detailers on here will prefer other regimes with more specialist products etc, but honestly, for ease of use vs amazing results this is a game changer IMO.
The other way to do it, is to get some proper deep cleaning done (+ paint correction etc if desired)... and then use this AG system to maintain
Hope this helps you get going. Cheers, Michael
I recently discovered and started using this system which is the Autoglym Polar Series: https://www.autoglym.com/polarpressurewasher
1. Polar Foam - the snowfoam/pre-wash stage. Spray on / soak 10mins / rinse off
2. Polar Wash - the shampoo/wash stage. Spray on / agitate with a mitt (rinse mitt regularly) / rinse off
3. Polar Seal - the protective sealant stage. Spray on / rinse off (no waiting) / sheet the water off with open end of a hose / dry and admire
This is all applied by foam cannon and pressure washer. You don't need the AG foam cannon (I have this one from amazon which is amazing: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B09 ... UTF8&psc=1)
Check out this quick video from AG on YT and see it in action for yourself: https://youtu.be/Q1x4AnWViGI
I've tried a lot of products over the years, but this blew me away on how fast and easy it is. I know the seasoned detailers on here will prefer other regimes with more specialist products etc, but honestly, for ease of use vs amazing results this is a game changer IMO.
The other way to do it, is to get some proper deep cleaning done (+ paint correction etc if desired)... and then use this AG system to maintain
Hope this helps you get going. Cheers, Michael
2015 /// E89 35i /// Estoril Blue with Canberra Beige Kansas Leather
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- Member
- Posts: 77
- Joined: Tue Mar 16, 2021 10:12 pm
- Location: Ayrshire
Newbie - Wash & polish recommendations
That vid was just the polar seal. Here it is in order...
Polar Blast: https://youtu.be/0XaI2idyYFc
Polar Wash: https://youtu.be/of9-5V6kHW4
Polar Seal: https://youtu.be/Q1x4AnWViGI
Polar Blast: https://youtu.be/0XaI2idyYFc
Polar Wash: https://youtu.be/of9-5V6kHW4
Polar Seal: https://youtu.be/Q1x4AnWViGI
2015 /// E89 35i /// Estoril Blue with Canberra Beige Kansas Leather